Dee's excellent RV adventure

[DeeRV]

My scuba diving group planned a 4 day trip to Key Largo, so I decided to join them but I stayed a total of 7 days in Key Largo, and then 5 days in Myrtle Beach, S.C. A total of 2600 miles from Philly to Key Largo and back!!! Lots of great driving experience for a newbie and enjoyed every minute of it!

So now I’ve got that one big trip under my belt and ready for more!!!!

The VERY best part of the trip was volunteering at the Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo. They had one remaining pilot whale they were nursing back to health after many were beached a few months earlier in the Keys. My 8pm to midnight shift consisted of holding (along with 3 other volunteers) the 1200 lb, 16 year old, in chest deep water so that the blowhole would be above water at all times. The lungs of the whale had been badly infected but she was showing much improvement. I also got to take and record the whale’s heartbeats (43/minute in case anyone was wondering).

It was an experience I’ll never forget. I had only heard about the need for volunteers my next to the last day in Key Largo or I would have helped out earlier. This has been an around the clock effort, since the stranding in early May, with a total of 5 whales initially. On some days, 100 volunteers were needed.

Lessons learned on this trip:

If traveling out of state and pumping hundreds of dollars of gas into an RV every day or so….. let your credit card company know your travel plans beforehand. Yes, my credit card was denied at my last gas fill-up before reaching the Keys. Easily rectified, just a pain to do, and something I had to do since I only brought 1 credit card along.

It is better to travel around Washington, DC than through it – oops, missed the turn, but hey I got to see the Capitol and the Washington Monument! Just wished the sightseeing trolley hadn’t come to a dead stop right in front of me on the highway (thank goodness for good brakes).

If you’re hugging a whale for 4 hours and standing in water in a lagoon at night, don’t forget to put insect repellent on your face -- 20 plus mosquito bites on my face and several through my wetsuit, but all worth it!!!

Pics to follow soon but having a hard time adjusting to being home……

[Pooker]

Wow! For a first trip, you sure packed in some great experiences. I wouldn't have thought about bug repellant either. You sure set the bar high for the rest of us! Glad your trip was such a success. Now on to the next one!

I adored the Keys. Wish I could go back someday, but, alas, age creeps up faster and faster each year. So, my advice to all you young'uns out there: Do what you can, when you can. Tomorrow comes zipping by much too soon.

Now we need pictures! Did you get any hugging the whale?

Pooker

[Bethers]

I was just wondering when you'd get back up here. Wow, Wow and Wow some more. Great trip. And the unexpected is what makes rving so much fun. Stopping to smell the roses and in your case that meant the whales, makes that trip one you couldn't ever duplicate. Can't wait to see some of your pictures.

[DeeRV]

Hi Pooker,
It wasn't my first trip ever, just my first BIG ONE!!! I've had my RV for a year but have only done the 100-300 mile trips previously.

I don't have any pics of me with the whale as cameras are not allowed beyond the fenced, land area. But there are many pics and more info at the Conservancy's website and also at their facebook site. The pics that are there are done by professional photogs approved by the conservancy.

http://marinemammalconservancy.org/

"My" whale is #300 and it appears she's made lots of progress this week. Unfortunately, it seems she will not be able to be returned to the ocean because of scoliosis in her tail but she is having Physical Therapy for it so you never know....

[rvgrammy1953]

Oh, Dee, what a wonderful trip!!! Can't wait for the pics....

[Irmi]

Wow! It sounds like a wonderful trip! Can't wait for the pictures!

When you get to the GTG in LIW, I'll give you directions to get south of Washington DC without having to go through or around it. It makes for a much more pleasant drive.

[Queen]

What a trip!! Gives me hope that I'll be able to find room in whatever rig we buy for my scuba gear!!

[DeeRV]

Queen - had plenty of room in my 24 foot Class C for my gear plus the gear of one of the instructors, plus his emergency tool box. He knew he was risking it if I didn't make it there for some reason. I had decided not to dive this trip but to go along with the dive group, snorkel and take pics of them and some of the new members as they were doing either their check-out dives or their first ocean dive. That plan failed somewhat as the current was strong and the seas were rough. I couldn't keep up with them, kicking as hard as I could on the surface and not getting anywhere. Lots of jellyfish too, many of the divers were stung. I high-tailed it out of there when I was surrounded by 7 jellyfish as I wasn't wearing a wetsuit. I did enjoy 4 very relaxing snorkels thruout the week without a strong current or rough seas, only a few jellyfish, and with two very large sea turtles!

My campground was a mile from John Pennekamp State Park with boat tours/snorkels to the wonderful reefs there. I brought my bike along and made the trip most mornings and was first in line to enter the Park. The Park itself has a beautiful campground, recently updated from what I understand.

Irmi - would appreciate the help for next time. I made it down without a problem. It was coming back that I missed the 495 loop. I actually saw the entrance ramp, my GPS told me to go that way but for some reason it didn't seem right. It was also the first "night before" that I didn't review my route for the next day....another lesson learned. At that point in the drive I was also preparing for the 695 loop around Baltimore because of the propane restrictions in the tunnel. Just a few months ago a friend of mine mentioned the tunnel restrictions to me in conversation ( before my trip was planned) and the Key Bridge alternative or I wouldn't have known about that.

Forgot to mention that I didn't think we were permitted to use insect repellent while with the whale. There were disinfecting procedures both before and after contact with the whale and we were prohibited from contact with any other sea mammals for 72 hours to prevent spread of infection with other restrictions too, and of course waivers to sign. There was someone from the Conservancy (a marine biologist or other knowledgeable person) in the water with us at all times, guarding the head, giving us directions, and answering ALL our questions.

[BirdbyBird]

An excellent adventure for sure! Thanks for sharing.....

[Redetotry]

Sounds like a great adventure. I picked up lots of good tips from your post, like the propane restrictions and reviewing your route the night before. Glad it was a terrific trip.

[mitch5252]

..

What an incredible experience! How exciting for you.
I'm glad you had a great time, and made it home all safe and sound!

Sounds like we have more than a couple of scuba divers here. Neat.

..

[Queen]

Dee - I find myself snorkeling more and more, especially in the Keys, I can pull off to the side of the road and wade in just about anywhere (once south of Marathon), fun!!!

[DeeRV]

Sounds like a great adventure. I picked up lots of good tips from your post, like the propane restrictions and reviewing your route the night before. Glad it was a terrific trip.

Other things worth mentioning...

Since I had two quick overnight stays before getting to Key Largo and two coming home....there is no need to hook up your sewer hose for these quickie stops and going through that hassel (even tho I was getting quite good at it ). My brother-in-law mentioned that to me before my trip and honestly I never would have thought about it. Of course I did hook up and dump on the overnight before reaching home.

Also, I decided to dump and put all the sewer stuff away the night before leaving my main destinations (Key Largo and Myrtle Beach). This made "leaving" day so much easier, especially with the heat/humdity of Florida, and the torrential rains that hit Myrtle Beach on the day I was leaving there. I watched others do the septic disconnect in the rains -- I felt really bad for them.

On one of my overnight stops I didn't even connect the water as I was carrying 1/3 a tank of fresh water with me. I just connected the electricity and cable, ordered a pizza to be delivered to my site, and I was set for the night. It's really fun to see what works for you!!!

I also got to try out my Flush King that I ordered directly from the company right before my trip, many times during the trip. What a great product!!!! I had a small problem with a little leak but realized it was due to my septic hose and not the Flush King. Couldn't wait to order a new hose when I got home. I've already received my new Rhino-Flex hose, tried it out with gray water in my driveway and it works great!

I recommend a long trip for any newbie, especially with highway driving, after some smaller ones. You really get a feel for the mirrors, how to pass safely and be confident with that right side mirror (my nemesis until this trip). I haven't done the final tally for gas purchases yet but I spent way more on the way down when I was going in the 70's (mph) than on the way back where torrential rains made everyone go in the 40's at times. I encountered many situations (rains and approx 10 accidents - some were serious). It was a learning experience that I never would have had with smaller trips. I am so much more confident but then again, I only have 24 feet to deal with and I have yet to back into an RV spot (love those pull-thru's!)

[DeeRV]

Thought I'd include just a few pics for now....many more to follow...

"My" fish


"My" turtle


"My" whale (during P.T. with the marine biologists)


"My" kids (who were troopers throughout the entire trip!)

[Rufflesgurl]

What a neat trip for you Dee. So glad you had a wonderful time!! Keep enjoying.

Linda